Last event

Act of Parliament

Latest news on the Welfare Reform Act 2012

Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 8 March. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).

Summary of the Welfare Reform Act 2012

The Bill provides for the introduction of a 'Universal Credit' to replace a range of existing means-tested benefits and tax credits for people of working age, starting from 2013. The Bill follows the November 2010 White Paper, 'Universal Credit: welfare that works', which set out the Coalition Government’s proposals for reforming welfare to improve work incentives, simplify the benefits system and tackle administrative complexity.